I came to my office this morning ready to post the utterly brilliant article I wrote yesterday. I couldn’t remember exactly what it was that I had written about, but knew it was good. I opened up the folder where I keep the upcoming posts I’ve written for this site and was unable to find the article. That’s strange. I looked on my desktop and other likely spots and found nothing. And, try as I might, I couldn’t remember what it was that I wrote about.
I think I know what happened. I probably had a dream last night in which I wrote a really good article. Somehow I had a bit of a disconnect and convinced myself that I had really written something when in reality it was only a dream. This was very disappointing to me. Still, this is not all bad, for it allows me to tackle another project. I am interested in compiling a list of conferences for the year 2007. I would prefer to keep this as a list of conferences that will be of particular interest to Reformed believers. I will format this list to look all pretty and make it available to anyone who is seeking a good conference to attend next year. I will differentiate between national and regional conferences. Here are the ones I have come up with so far. Please feel free to suggest others and I will update and formalize the list as we go.
National Conferences
February 16-19 - Resolved (Long Beach, CA) is a ministry of Grace Community Church and targets primarily College-age students and young adult Christians. Keynote speakers at this year’s conference include John MacArthur, John Piper, C.J. Mahaney, Rick Holland and Steve Lawson.
March 7-11 - The Shepherd’s Conference (Sun Valley, CA) is a ministry of Grace Community Church. It is geared towards pastors and includes both general sessions and seminars. General session speakers include John MacArthur, John Piper, Steve Lawson, Albert Mohler, Ligon Duncan and Mark Dever. Seminars are led by pastors and elders of Grace Community Church and professors from The Master’s College and Seminary.
March 15-17 - Contending for the Truth - Ligonier Ministries National Conference (Orlando, FL) is the national conference for Ligonier Ministries. This year’s speakers will be John MacArthur, Albert Mohler, John Piper, R.C. Sproul and Ravi Zacharias. R.C. Sproul Jr. will be a special guest. This conference is targeted at a general audience.
May 7-9 - The Basics (Pastor’s Conference) (Cleveland, OH) is a ministry of Parkside Church in Cleveland, Ohio and is targeted at pastors. The list of keynote speakers includes Alistair Begg and others.
May 26-29 - New Attitude (Louisville, KY) is the annual conference of New Attitude. This year’s theme has yet to be announced. The primary audience for this conference is single young adults. Featured speakers include John Piper and Josh Harris. Further well-known speakers will be announced in the near future. The conference includes both general sessions and seminars.
June 26-29 - Southern Baptist Founders Conference (Owasso, OK) is a ministry of Founders Ministries and is targeted towards a general audience. This year’s theme is “God’s Truth Abideth Still: Confronting Post-Modernism.”
October 2007 - Desiring God National Conference (Minneapolis, MN) is the annual national conference of Desiring God. At this time details have not been released.
Fall/Winter 2007 - Alpha & Omega Conference is a ministry of Alpha & Omega Ministries. It is targeted towards a general audience. It typically features a debate involving James White as well as sessions led by Dr. White and other keynote speakers.
Regional Conferences
Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology (Sacramento, CA) is a ministry of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals and is intended for a general audience. Speakers includes Donald Carson, Mark Dever, Ligon Duncan, Albert Mohler, Richard Phillips, Philip Ryken and R. C. Sproul. The conference is held four times: Sacramento, CA March 2-4, 2007; Jackson, MS March 23-25, 2007; Grand Rapids, MI April 20-22, 2007; and Philadelphia, PA April 27-29, 2007.
Comments (29) »
1. Spurgeonite
August 25, 2006
10:57 AM
Do I see a pattern here? lol Sheesh. I love John, and Al, and Mark and C. J. and Ligon, but has someone passed a law that says only these brothers can speak at conferences? But seriously, I’d listen to these brothers anytime. Oh for inexhaustible time and an unlimited budget!
2. Tim Challies
August 25, 2006
11:04 AM
I think there’s an A-list of Reformed speakers. It includes Sproul, MacArthur and Piper. Those are the big guns. Beyond them you’ve got your B-listers: Mohler, Lawson, Dever, Mahaney, Duncan, etc. And so on.
But you know what I love? These are all men who have built long ministries on teaching the Word. There aren’t any here who are flashes in the pan or just big personalities. They are all humble, godly teachers of the Word. Like Spurgeonite, I’d listen to them anytime.
3. Bruce McKanna
August 25, 2006
11:42 AM
What about the Bethlehem Conference for Pastors?
http://www.desiringgod.org/news_events/bcp_index.html
4. Leslie
August 25, 2006
11:46 AM
Just one more reason to keep me coming back! This will be a great resource. Unfortunately, Alabama does not seem to be a hub for Reformed activity. Southern Baptist and other LifeWay stuff—oh, yes!
5. donsands
August 25, 2006
11:51 AM
Thanks for the updates. I am prayerfully and hopefully going to the Philly Reformed Conference, Lord willin’ and the crick don’t rise, or should I say the Susquehannah River don’t rise.
That’s exciting indeed.
6. Sara
August 25, 2006
12:19 PM
Tim,
Thank you for the list. I wanted to bring some clarification and encouragement on the NA information, if that’s okay.
In the past, NA was for singles 18-29, but the past two conference (2004 and 2006) were for singles 18-99+. I’m glad they made this change because they’re alot of older singles (older than college age) out there who still desire to go to conferences. I’m sure there are conferences out there for older singles, but the type of good biblically reformed conferences seem limited.
I’m a single 27 year old woman and it can be discouraging in a way to see conferences out there with all these great speakers, but you have to be a man who is ministry minded. Not that I’m complaining. I’m reformed, people. :-) But NA is a wonderful fit for me finding a context to hear great speakers and hear the Word of God preached. I am so stoked about Piper speaking next year at NA! I’ve said that even if God brings a husband to me before then, we can still go to the conference to serve! :-)
So with all that in mind, I just wanted to bring clarification to those older singles who read Tim’s excellent blog and may be put off by the term “younger single” and to encourage them to come to NA next year!
Sara
7. Chris C
August 25, 2006
12:20 PM
Tim:
This doesn’t exactly fit your criteria, but your list reminded me of an upcoming Bible conference in the Kansas City area on Sept. 14th-16th, 2006 that a lot of people don’t know about. This year, the “Glory of Christ” Bible Conference will be featuring Tom Wells (Reformed Baptist pastor and author), who will be speaking on the theme: The Priority of Jesus Christ.
Jim Elliff, will also be one of the guest speakers.
If you are in the Kansas City area and are interested in attending, go to this page for more information.
Thanks for letting me plug this free conference!
8. Alex Chediak
August 25, 2006
12:44 PM
Good catch, Bruce!
And, IMHO, Tom Wells is a great writer. I’ve mentioned some of his other books on my blog. So I just wanted to echo Chris C.’s comment. The Wells book which Chris mentions deals with a school of thought called “New Covenant Theology” (the title of an earlier book Wells wrote) which (for the sake of brevity) is a “blend” of elements of covenant theology and dispensationalism. It is appealing to many calvinistic baptists who don’t feel they neatly fit into either camp. They tend to be non-sabbitarian as well.
9. Matthew C
August 25, 2006
12:47 PM
Another great conference next year will be the Reclaiming America Conference held in Fort Lauderdale, FL on March 2 and 3. Speakers include Mohler, Dr. James Kennedy and Tony Perkins. For more information you can go here: http://www.reclaimamerica.org/pages/events/events.aspx#
10. Paul
August 25, 2006
1:21 PM
Another suggestion:
April 11-12th - the Sovereign Grace Leadership Conference (Gaithersburg, MD) for pastors, leaders, church administrators, leaders-in-training, and potential leaders. Speakers include CJ Mahaney and R.C. Sproul. Worship led by Bob Kauflin.
11. ed elliott
August 25, 2006
1:36 PM
I’m not sure there is a bigger fan of John Piper than me. I’ve listened to perhaps 800 tapes of John MacArthur. R.C. has blessed me so with THE INVISIBLE HAND, and other writings.
BUT, seeing this list, I’m beginning to get this STAR TREK feel about all these conferences. Only Kirk, Scotti, Bones, and Spock beamed down continually. It would be great if John, John, and RC worked hard to promote the Timothies among us (men such as Josh Harris and Coty Pinckney, etc) to create STAR TREK: NEXT GENERATION.
12. Barry
August 25, 2006
1:44 PM
This is a great idea. When you complete the list, I hope it’s posted permanently on your home page. Thanks!
13. Drew Goodmanson
August 25, 2006
2:12 PM
What are the chances you attend a Resurgence conference? Its a new generation of reformed guys (and heh, Piper spoke at it). If you’re in San Diego, you’re welcome to attend our conference on Church Planting, Replication & Renewal.
14. Michael Garner
August 25, 2006
2:36 PM
“B-listers: Mohler, Lawson, Dever, Mahaney, Duncan,”
Wow. I’d like to be a b…c… even D-lister with that tough scale.
Good compilation so far.
15. thebluefish
August 25, 2006
2:38 PM
One thing I wonder, with all these big name speakers is that they all give one-off talks, often duplicated elsewhere - and they’re brilliant… at some of our UK conferences the same happens - at a few though we’ll get someone preach an expositional series… something not heard elsewhere and very refreshing.
The best of those in the last year was probably Terry Virgo doing a series of 4 on Romans at our student leaders conference. (MP3’s linked from my blog)
16. Jeri
August 25, 2006
2:59 PM
Leslie, I’m an Alabamian too and you are right, not much going on down here in the way of Reformed theology. But there is some. What part of the state are you in?
Jeri Tanner
17. James
August 25, 2006
3:26 PM
Great idea for a resource!
Lord willing I will have the necessary funds to attend at least one conference next year.
18. Leslie Wise
August 25, 2006
5:40 PM
Jeri and Leslie,
I am also an Alabamian(Mobile) and am blessed to attend and serve on the adminsitrative staff at Christ Fellowship Baptist Church where Steve Lawson is pastor. If you y’all are ever in the area…come see us!
Leslie Wise
19. Leslie
August 25, 2006
8:04 PM
Jeri and Leslie,
I live in the Tuscaloosa area. I’m not kidding. There is not much here in the way of Reformed Theology. Tim’s comments section isn’t the appropriate forum for this discussion, as I could go on and on, so if any one of you challies faithful have advice for a thirsty reformed mother of four….do tell! Click my name or somethin.’ I’m not dying to go to a conference that is hundreds of miles away. I’d rather purchase the audio. But if we could get something going in this beautiful red state, I’m so there! Piper did make his way to Samford last year, but it was restricted to male seminary students. I was in B’ham that day, but the closest I got to it was eavesdropping on a conversation in Barnes and Noble between two guys who did go. I’m such a loser!
20. Brian Thornton
August 25, 2006
10:17 PM
It would be great if John, John, and RC worked hard to promote the Timothies among us…
Ed,
I think Ligonier has done this, at least to some degree:
1. Ken Jones (White Horse Inn) was one of the speakers at this year’s conference.
2. Derek Thomas (FPC, Jackson, MS) filled in for Joni at last year’s conference.
My wife and I can only afford ONE conference a year…and next March will mark our third consecutive year at the Ligonier Conference, Lord willing. I think it truly is one of the best layperson’s conferences to attend (but also seems well attended by pastors/elders also).
21. Andrew Lindsey
August 26, 2006
12:01 AM
I’m planning on going hear President Mohler and R.C. Sproul in Lexington on Nov. 3-4 at Tates Creek Presbyterian Church for the Ligonier “Cross of Christ” conference. http://www.ligonier.org/conference/index.php
22. Brian
August 26, 2006
5:51 AM
Regional conference at Westminster Seminary California:
“The Law of God and the Christian” Jan. 12-13 2007
Location: Westminster Seminary, Escondido, CA
Speakers: WSC Staff-Michael Horton, Robert Godfrey, David Vandrunen, Hywel Jones, Byan Estelle, Dennis E. Johnson, S.M. Baugh, and R. Scott Clark
23. Kristie
August 26, 2006
10:00 AM
Thanks Tim! I’m bookmarking this page. I can only afford to go to one of these conferences. So I did some online searches to try and figure out which conference would be best for me. The big surprise came when I searched on Ligonier Ministries. Some people seem pretty upset about R.C. Sproul Jr. speaking at the Ligonier Conference. I didn’t even know he’d been defrocked. How did I miss that? If you mentioned anything about it I guess I just must have missed it. It all sounds pretty serious. Guess I’ll scratch that one off my list. But there’s still plenty of other options.
24. Marty
August 26, 2006
4:53 PM
On October 29-31, Phillip Jensen will be in the States for a conference for Matthias Media. Phillip is the author of many books and Bible studies as well as the Two Ways to Live evangelism training course (highly recommended by Mark Dever). He has been preaching in Sydney, Australia for over 30 years. He did the Conger Lectures of Biblical Preaching this past year at Beeson Divinity.
More information will be posted at www.matthiasmedia.com
For those who have never heard Phillip preach before, it is a real treat.
25. robert
August 27, 2006
12:12 AM
For that matter, Kent Hughes and David Helm will be doing a round of preaching workshops in 2007 as well. At least one of them will be in Philadelphia (Tenth Pres., Phil Ryken’s church) the first week in February. At least one of them will be in Dallas the first week in March, Spokane WA and Maplewood MN and Wheaton IL also in the spring. David Short (Canadian Anglican from St. John’s Shaughnessy Church) will join them for preaching workshops in Toronto the second week in March and Calgary the first week in May.
And of course, Dick Lucas (from Proc. Trust in London) will be running a conference with David Helm at Taylor University in Upland in November (1st-3rd in 2006). You can sign up at www.simeontrust.org.
26. Marty
August 27, 2006
7:41 AM
Thanks for bringing this up, Robert.
The Simeon Trust Conferences are really top-notch. They offer something differen than the typical mega-conference in that they offer personalized instruction on how to handle Biblical texts.
There are main sessions where everyone sits together to listen to a certain topic concerning Bible interpretation. Then, there are small-group break-out sessions (6-8 people) where people take turns preaching a mini-sermon (5 mins). The leader and other group members offer thoughts and direction. At first, it is a bit tough to take but then you realize how valuable that kind of feedback actually is. It isn’t often that I, as a pastor, get the type of feedback where I can actually work on areas to improve my handling and faithfulness to the text.
I’ve been to a few and they are a tremendous help and encouragement. Anyone who is actively involved in preaching or Biblie study leading should consider one of these workshops.
27. Tim Challies
August 28, 2006
1:10 PM
This topic has been moved here where you can see the real directory.
28. Carson
August 28, 2006
6:34 PM
Lig, Mark Dever, and C.J. are fare from B-list preachers
29. Tim Challies
August 28, 2006
6:48 PM
“Lig, Mark Dever, and C.J. are fare from B-list preachers”
I know that. I’m just goofing around!